As the forest stretched northward, extending farther from the road, Leon and his companions dared not leave the woods to travel openly in the fields due to concerns about potential dangers ahead. They were forced to veer westward, gradually distancing themselves from the road frequented by people.

After traversing the dense and rugged terrain of the forest, the ground began to rise before them. It wasn't until they found themselves at the edge of a cliff overlooking a canyon, with no path forward, that they realized they had unknowingly arrived at a precipice. The view before them suddenly opened up.

Below the cliff lay a vast and vibrant river valley plain.

However, the three had no desire to admire the magnificent scenery. Their gaze was immediately drawn to the chaotic scene in the distance that seemed to stain the natural landscape.

Upstream along the river stretching eastward, the area had turned into a bloody battlefield, shattering the tranquility of the valley.

On the distant land, densely packed figures moved in tight formations. Banners fluttered, and the arrays reflected the metallic glint of iron armor and swords under the bright sun.

At the heart of the fiercest battle, thunderous shouts and the neighing of warhorses echoed above the riverbank. Groups of armored cavalry charged through barrages of arrows, galloping swiftly. Infantry spear formations clashed repeatedly, leaving countless bodies strewn on the ground.

Even from such a distance, Leon could still hear the deep sounds of horns.

Staring at the intense battle between the two massive armies, Leon felt a hint of relief. Though they had lost their way in the forest, they were fortunate to have avoided the most dangerous areas.

"Judging by the scale, there must be thousands of men. The army to the north should be the forces of Aurand," Azerion squinted, trying to discern the flags on the battlefield. However, from their vantage point on the cliff, it was too far to see clearly.

"Could we have already entered Aurand territory? Did we just happen to witness those Kantadar bastards simultaneously waging war against the northerners?" Lohak scratched his head in confusion, watching the fierce fighting by the riverbank.

"Although we're not far from the border between the two countries, we're probably still within Marmore County," Azerion pointed toward the distant mountain range beyond the plain. "If I'm not mistaken, that should be the Galak Mountains north of Marmore County, which means we haven't left Kantadar yet."

"So, the current battle... isn't the Kantadars invading Aurand simultaneously, but rather the Aurandians taking the opportunity to invade Kantadar," Leon speculated, rubbing his chin.

With that in mind, his initial judgment wasn't entirely wrong. He simply hadn't accounted for the northern kingdom, unfamiliar to him, initiating a war against Kantadar.

"Ha! That's good news! By Ilariel, may the Aurandians make those bastards bleed rivers," Lohak eagerly looked back at the battlefield, wishing he could be part of the northern army to personally avenge his deceased parents. "Tsk... If only I could join them now."

Leon shook his head helplessly. "What's the rush? Someone like you, who has combat training, will have plenty of opportunities to join their army once we reach Aurand. Since there's a war, the north is surely recruiting soldiers."

Without lingering, they continued along the cliff edge heading west.

According to Azerion, since they could see the Galak Mountains from here, they were very close to the border. Now, they could reach Aurand territory by heading either west or north. But the northern route was clearly impassable, so they needed to try circling through the forest to the west.

...

After slowly trekking westward through the forest for an entire day, they followed the frequent tracks of animals to a nearby water source. After filling their water bags, the three found a clearing near a large exposed boulder in the woods and set up camp.

Today, their luck wasn't bad. Before dark, Leon managed to catch an animal near the water source that looked like a fox. With their food long depleted, this catch allowed them to have a satisfying meal.

Sitting around the campfire, the group chatted to pass the time before sleep. Leon casually asked his two companions, "What are your plans when we reach Aurand?"

Lohak fixed his gaze and said, "I must rescue my sister, but I don't know where she is. So I plan to join the Aurand army first. That way, I can earn money. With money, I can search for my sister's whereabouts. If I can make more on the battlefield, maybe I can buy her back from the slavers someday."

Leon was a bit surprised. He had thought that Lohak, filled with hatred for the Kantadars, would choose to use force to snatch his loved one back from them.

Seeing Leon's surprised expression, Lohak felt a bit embarrassed. "Hey, don't look at me like that. I've thought carefully about what you said before. You're right; I'm alone and weak. No matter how much I hate those Kantadar bastards, acting blindly will only get me and my sister killed."

He gripped the sword in his hand. "The most important thing now is to rescue my sister. As for avenging my parents, there will always be opportunities later to make those butchers repay their blood debts."

Leon felt somewhat comforted to see that this rash and reckless youth finally had a clear goal for survival.

"Joining the Aurand army is an option. As for me, I'll probably try to find work with a local lord," Azerion added some branches to the fire and continued, "I can read and write and understand noble etiquette. It would be great if I could become a squire for a noble. If not, I could keep accounts or copy books for a local lord. If the Kantadars withdraw from Rolannar City in the future, I'll find a way to return."

"What about you, Leon?" Lohak asked.

After thinking for a moment, Leon felt a bit lost. Aside from trying to survive, he didn't have any long-term plans.

Joining the army with Lohak was one option. After all, the original Leon was skilled with the bow and arrow. But in these chaotic times, soldiering carried significant risks, and he might end up as cannon fodder on the battlefield.

Could he, like Azerion, find a job with a noble? Maybe the local lord needed a hunter.

As for seeking revenge against the Kantadars for his deceased family... The tragedy that befell the original owner indeed elicited his sympathy, but Leon knew those weren't his own memories. If given the chance, he wouldn't mind avenging the original "Leon," but if it meant risking his own life, it might not be worth it.

In any case, once this arduous escape was over, the three might have to part ways.

Night soon fell. The sporadic chirping of insects accompanied the eerie swaying of shadows cast by the trees. Besides the crackling of the campfire, only the unsettling sound of wind rustling through the forest remained.

Having slept through the first half of the night, Leon was soon shaken awake for his turn at watch during the latter half. Thankfully, he had grown accustomed to such unpredictable routines during their escape.

The forest at night was frighteningly silent. The faint moonlight barely penetrated the dense canopy above. Beyond the small area illuminated by the campfire, darkness engulfed everything, making it impossible to see one's own hand.

Leon stared blankly into the surrounding abyss, sometimes pondering his future path but mostly lost in thought.

Keeping watch for several hours until dawn was extremely monotonous and tedious, causing Leon to miss his phone and computer from his past life every moment.

...Hmm?

What's that?

Fireflies?

Leon squinted, focusing on the faint flickering lights in the darkness, only to realize that pairs of reflective glints were increasing in number.

In an instant, his blood seemed to freeze. Those weren't fireflies! They were eyes reflecting the light of the campfire!

"Everyone, wake up! There's danger!"

Leon shouted to rouse his companions. He stood up, gripping his pitchfork tightly, pointing it toward the lurking figures hidden in the darkness.

Lohak and Azerion, who had been sleeping lightly, awoke almost immediately. Without hesitation, they grabbed their weapons and stood on either side of Leon, eyes wide and alert.

"What is it?"

Lohak, keeping calm, held his sword ready in one hand while lighting a pre-made pine-torch with resin in the campfire using the other. He waved it to illuminate the shadows beyond the campsite.

The hazy firelight swept across the dense forest ahead, revealing the silhouettes of creatures hiding within. One twisted, ugly face after another emitted strange cries, trying to shield themselves from the glaring light. Only then did Leon see what those things truly were.

...Goblins?!

The term flashed through Leon's mind. Those bald, ugly heads with sharp ears and their small, naked, humanoid bodies resembled the common fodder monsters in the fantasy works from his past memories.

But he noticed differences from the goblins he remembered. Their skin was brown rather than green, and their faces weren't humanoid but more like canine beast heads—sharp-toothed, twisted, and ferocious.

Similar to his impression of goblins, these creatures were clearly not simple, mindless beasts. Leon could see that these ugly beings held crude short spears or grasped rusted broken blades scavenged from somewhere. They obviously knew how to use tools and weapons.

"Kobolds? No... they're Wild Gremlins!" Azerion was the first to recognize these evil beings that existed almost only in books.

Leon frowned deeply. In the time the original owner lived with his father around the forest, he'd never encountered such creatures. Though his previous experience of casting a spell had already made him accept that he was in another world, this was his first time witnessing such an uncommon intelligent life form.

"What? Wild Gremlins? I thought they were just stories adults used to scare kids!" Lohak exclaimed in disbelief, staring at the small monsters before them.

"The monsters and demons near the Holy City were eradicated by the church and army over a hundred years ago. It's normal you haven't seen them," Azerion said solemnly.

But his calm was only on the surface. Inside, the youth was just as panicked. According to the records in the bestiary, while such small monsters weren't a threat to armies, they could ambush and kill lone travelers in the wild at night, especially in large numbers. In some cases, Wild Gremlins might even try to attack villages under cover of darkness.

At this moment, with only the three of them, there was no doubt they had become prey in the eyes of the Gremlins.

Seeing that they had been exposed, the Gremlins hiding in the forest screeched in their harsh, grating voices. Cackling and howling, they leaped out of the bushes, grouping up in threes and fives, brandishing their weapons as they surrounded Leon and his companions.

Watching the ferocious little monsters closing in with claws and fangs, Leon felt his scalp tingle. "How do we deal with these bastards? Should we fight them or break through and shake them off?"

"If the books are correct, these creatures can see in the dark. If we leave the campfire and run into the forest, we won't be able to see and it'll be even more dangerous! If we fall into their traps, we're done for," Azerion gripped his round shield and pitchfork tightly. "We have to hold out until dawn! Wild Gremlins' eyes are extremely sensitive to sunlight; they'll retreat back to their lairs before sunrise."

"Watch out!" Lohak sharply noticed a shadow flying out of the darkness.

Azerion quickly raised his shield in front of his companions. With a thud, the incoming short spear was deflected. The crude spearhead and insufficient force weren't even enough to embed the spear into the shield.

Although the thrown spear didn't succeed, it acted like a starting gun. The numerous Wild Gremlins howled as they charged forward.